Pushy parents and teachers who “hothouse” the under-5s risk causing damage to the children’s long term development, a leading education expert said.
Lilian Katz, Professor of Education at the University of Illinois, said that four-year-olds engaged in reading and writing went on to perform worse academically than those engaged in imaginative learning. They scored higher in tests at the age of 5, but children whose first year at school was stimulating outstripped them four years later.
The findings suggest that the government's structured approach to early years' learning could be storing up problems for children. They also raise serious questions about the plan for all children to be able to read by the age of 6.
In many countries formal teaching does not start until children are 6 or 7 and have improved their social and manual skills. Children start learning to read and write at 6 in the United States, France and Germany, and at 7 in Finland and Sweden.
Professor Katz said that in many schools the courses were "boring children to tears". Much academic teaching required children to learn by memorizing pieces of information out of context, she said. Teaching in reception class should instead allow children to develop their intellect by exploring their environments and asking questions.
"Research suggests the benefits of formal academic instruction for four- and five-year-olds seem to be promising when they are tested early, but considerably less so in the long term. When these children are followed over a period of three or more years, those who had early experience in more intellectually engaging curricula were more likely to do well in school than their peers, who had received early academic instruction." She advocates teaching children through first-hand experience and play, in mixed-aged classes. This can include puppet shows, drawing or running a pretend shop in the classroom.
1.According to the passage, those who “hothouse” the under-5s would probably _________.
A. prefer a lot of interaction and stimulation while teaching
B. teach in a lively way to motivate kids’ interest
C. push the kids to memorize pieces of information
D. care about the kids’ physical development
2.What does the underlined word “ outstripped” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A. did better than B. looked down upon
C. caught up with D. performed worse than
3.According to Lilian Katz, the government’s structured approach to early-years learning __.
A. is necessary for improving children’s reading and writing ability
B. needs to be improved to develop children’s academic ability
C. will cause problems to children in their future learning
D. has more advantages than disadvantages
4.The message the author wants to deliver through the passage is that formal teaching _____.
A. can start at different times in different countries. B. should not be started too early
C. is best carried out in Finland and Sweden
D. should include teaching children social and manual skills
5.Which of the following is NOT the opinion of Lilian Katz?
A. Children should be taught through first-hand experience.
B. Learning in a mixed-age class is good for children.
C. Running a shop can help children get good marks.
D. Puppet shows and drawing are useful in teaching children.
The 47-year-old singer talks about the new album Symphony（交响乐） that came out of a “very dark time”, including her decision to give up trying to have children. “People have suggested I could adopt,” Brightman says. “But work is central to my life now. And so I am going to put it to one side. After a while not having children becomes the norm and perhaps that might sound alarming, to parents especially, but I have never known anything different. I’m not hurt by not having children. My life and career are incredibly rich.”
Talking about growing up in a large family in Berkhamsted (father a property developer who later committed suicide), she says: “I was gifted as a child, and very musical. I seemed to be good at anything to do with the arts. At 5，I understood the music I was dancing to and had an eye for costume.” She first appeared in a West End musical at 11 and hated boarding school.
Brightman led the saucy dance troupe（辣妹三人舞） Hot Gossip and had her first hit with I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper in 1978. At 18 she married a music manager called Andrew Graham Stewart. “I was probably in love but I can’t remember. Girls change such a lot between 18 and 22. It didn’t really work out.” In 1981 she was spotted by Lloyd Webber. She became his leading lady in Song and Dance, Requiem and Phantom of the Opera. They married in 1984.
Brightman says she felt hostility(敌意) “from the beginning. I haven’t tried to understand it. I’ve done very well everywhere else, especially the US, where I now live, I just accept it for what it is. The more you are away from Britain, the more you appreciate it. But I don’t miss it, although I miss my family. Our profession can be uncomfortable but I enjoy what I do. I get on with it.”
1. The first paragraph tells us that _____.
A. Brightman is very popular around the world except in America
B. Brightman’s musical style is a mixture of opera, pop and jazz
C. the British people don’t like her for her style of music
D. Brightman is much older than Andrew Lloyd Webber
2. Brightman decided to give up having children because _____.
A. she could adopt one
B. her life and career were unbelievably rich without children
C. she felt it normal not to have children
D. she was too busy
3.The following statements are true except ______.
A. Brightman first appeared in a West End musical at 5
B. Brightman disliked life on the campus
C. Brightman was very gifted when she was young
D.The saucy dance troupe made Brightman famous
4.The underlined word in the fourth paragraph probably means _____.
A. located B. admired C. followed D. found
5. What does the author try to say in the last paragraph by quoting Brightman’s words?
A. Brightman has to accept the fact that she is not liked in Britain
B. Brightman lives in America but she loves her own country
C. The British coldness towards Brightman led to her hatred to her homeland
D. Brightman was at a loss why she was not welcome in Britain
It was a cold winter day that Sunday. The parking lot to the 36 was filling up quickly. I noticed, as I got out of my car, fellow church members were 37 among themselves as they walked in the church. As I got 38 , I saw a man leaning up against the wall outside the church. He was almost lying down 39 he was asleep. His hat was 40 down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too 41 for his feet, with holes all over them and his toes 42 out. I guessed this man was 43 and asleep, so I walked on 44 through the doors of the church. We all talked for a few minutes, and someone 45 the man lying outside. People whispered but no one took 46 to ask him to come in, 47 me. A few moments later church began. We were all waiting for the Preacher(牧师) to take his 48 and to give us the Word, 49 the doors to the church opened. In 50 the man walking down the church with his head down. People gasped and whispered and made 51 . He made his way down the church and up onto the pulpit(讲坛) where he took off his hat and coat. My heart 52 .
There stood our preacher……he was the “homeless man”. The preacher took his Bible and 53 it on his stand.
“ 54 , I don’t think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today. If you 55 people by their appearance, you have no time to love them.”
1. A. school B. lecture C. park D. church
2. A. arguing B. whispering C. stating D. speaking
3. A. closer B. clearer C. lower D. farther
4. A. even though B. so that C. as if D. even if
5. A. dragged B. pulled C. dropped D. pushed
6. A. big B. bad C. ugly D. small
7.A. reached B. went C. stuck D. ran
8.A. homeless B. hopeless C. helpless D. careless
9. A. out B. by C. across D. from
10. A. invited B. mentioned C. took D. called
11. A. pleasure B. measure C. courage D. trouble
12. A. except B. besides C. without D. including
13. A. turn B. place C. time D. seat
14. A. when B. before C. as D. after
15. A. rushed B. hurried C. came D. entered
16. A. decision B. choices C. faces D. jokes
17. A. sank B. fell C. broke D. failed
18. A. threw B. set C. laid D. folded
19.A. Brothers B. Folks C. Supporters D. Members
20.A. judge B. hate C. treat D. test
It is few people, _____have come to ask for the position, ____fit for the job.
A. who; who do I think is B. that; I think is
C. that; who I think are D. who; that I think are
My daughter loves writing and has _____many articles to her school edition---the Sun Breeze---and even the local newspaper.
A. printed B. written C. contributed D. published
I ____ to go for a walk, but someone called and I couldn’t get away.
A.was planning B.planned C.had planned D.would plan
